Creates the School Health Center Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to initiate 20 new school health centers over a 5-year period beginning July 1, 2007, and build capacity with existing school health centers in the State. Effective immediately.
Creates the Illinois Stem Cell Initiative of 2007. Contains only a short title provision.
Creates the Illinois Cool Cities Act. Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency shall provide technical assistance, if needed, to units of local government in the State that have endorsed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Provides that any unit of local government may request designation as an Illinois Cool City if the unit of local government has (i) endorsed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and (ii) prepared and approved a plan to achieve a 7% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by the year 2012. Provides for designation of Illinois Cool Cities upon certain findings by the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code, School Code, Child Passenger Protection Act, and Unified Code of Corrections. Makes various changes regarding: driver education requirements; graduated driver's licenses; instruction permits for minors; curfews for drivers under a specified age; the number of passengers under a specified age allowed in a vehicle driven by a newly licensed driver under a certain age; the use of seat safety belts; the use of wireless telephones by graduated driver's license holders; suspensions of driver's licenses of drivers under age 21 under specified circumstances; required appearances before the presiding judge with a parent or guardian under specified circumstances; vehicle impoundment for drivers arrested for street racing; and other matters. Repeals provisions creating the offense of drag racing. Creates the offenses of street racing and aggravated street racing, and makes conforming changes. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2008, except that the provisions amending the School Code are effective July 1, 2008.
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle or individual proceeding in the same direction on a highway must maintain a distance of at least 3 feet between the vehicle and the bicycle or individual. Provides that a bicycle rider may signal a right turn by extending his or her right hand horizontally and to the right side of the bicycle. Provides that the rider of a bicycle or a motorized pedal cycle shall ride as close to the right-hand curb or edge as practicable and safe (rather than as close as practicable), except in specified circumstances. Provides that, in addition to the existing exceptions, the rider is not required to ride as close to the right-hand curb or edge as practicable and safe when the rider is approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. Provides that for the purposes of certain categories of persons who may not be accepted for residency in an establishment, a licensed health care professional may (instead of may not) be employed by the owner or operator of the establishment, its parent entity, or any other entity with ownership common to either the owner or operator of the establishment or parent entity, including but not limited to an affiliate of the owner or operator of the establishment. Effective immediately.
Amends the Municipal Code. Provides that a municipality may collect from the owner of record of property located within the municipality the reasonable cost of abating a nuisance on property. Provides that, in order to collect the cost of abatement, the municipality must show that (i) it provided reasonable notice of the nuisance to the owner of record, (ii) the owner failed to take steps to abate the nuisance, and (iii) the nuisance was remedied at the expense of the municipality. Provides that the municipality, or a person performing service on behalf of the municipality, may impose a lien on the property in order to recover the cost of abating the nuisance. Effective immediately.
Creates the Smoke Free Illinois Act. Sets forth the findings of the General Assembly. Creates several definitions. Prohibits smoking in public places, places of employment, and governmental vehicles. Requires "No Smoking" signs to be posted in each public place and place of employment where smoking is prohibited. Requires ashtrays to be removed from any area where smoking is prohibited. Prohibits smoking in student dormitories, including, but not limited to, sleeping rooms, dining areas, restrooms, laundry areas, lobbies, and hallways, of a building used in whole or in part as a student dormitory that is owned and operated or otherwise utilized by a public or private institution of higher education. Provides that the Department of Public Health, State-certified local public health departments, and local law enforcement agencies shall enforce the provisions of the Act. Sets forth fines for violations of the Act. Provides that the Department, a State-certified local public health department, local law enforcement agency, or any individual personally affected by repeated violations may institute, in a circuit court, an action to enjoin violations of the Act. Prohibits discrimination against individuals who exercise their rights afforded by the Act. Provides that a home rule unit may regulate smoking in public places, but that regulation must be no less restrictive than the provisions in the Act. Prohibits smoking within a minimum distance of 15 feet from entrances, exits, windows that open, and ventilation intakes that serve an enclosed area where smoking is prohibited. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Repeals the Illinois Clean Indoor Air Act.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that under the Medicaid program, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall reimburse psychiatrists for mental health services they provide, as authorized by Illinois law, to recipients via telepsychiatry. Requires the Department to adopt rules establishing a method to reimburse providers for mental health services provided by telepsychiatry. Provides that the reimbursement methodology for mental health services provided by telemedicine shall be comparable to the reimbursement methodology used by the Department for other services provided by telemedicine. Effective immediately.
Urges the United States Congress to support and pass H.R. 1279 to provide states with an option to receive additional medicaid funding to reimburse community-based organizations to raise the wages of direct support professionals.
